President Donald Trump just launched his latest bid to save coal. And he’s calling in the troops. Trump today directed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to buy electricity from coal plants to power military installations — a move that could undercut all the health and climate gains brought by coal’s decades-long slide in the electricity markets,

Trump announced that the Energy Department will provide ​six coal plants in Kentucky, North ⁠Carolina, ⁠Ohio, Virginia and ⁠West ​Virginia with $175 million for upgrades. That funding comes ​from ⁠the bipartisan infrastructure bill passed during the Biden administration that had been earmarked for ⁠rural capacity and energy affordability coal projects.

An executive order directs Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Secretary of Energy Chris Wright to approve long-term contracts with coal-fired plants to provide electricity to military installations and facilities.

Mr. Trump is trying to revive coal, the dirtiest fossil fuel. At the White House, coal executives awarded him a trophy as the “Undisputed Champion of Beautiful Clean Coal.”

Coal stocks finished with gains Wednesday, helped by news that President Donald Trump was signing an executive order after the market’s close that could help the industry.

President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced an executive order directing the Department of War to pursue new agreements with coal plants to ensure a “more reliable” electric grid. (Pool)

Donald Trump has directed the Department of Defense to buy coal-generated electricity, as part of his ongoing push to revive the flagging industry. In an executive order announced on Wednesday, the US president ordered defence secretary Pete Hegseth to strike agreements with coal power plants selected by the departments of defence and energy.

President Donald Trump ordered the Pentagon to secure long-term power purchase agreements with coal plants for military installations. The president said he also directed the Department of Energy to issue funds to keep coal plants open in West Virginia,